How to Remove Paint from Brick

Brick is porous, so when paint gets on the surface, it soaks in and can be difficult to remove. If you have paint stains on the side of your brick house, soap and water likely aren’t enough to get them off. Removing paint from brick requires more aggressive cleaning products, with care given to preserving the integrity of the brick during the process.

What You’ll Need

Fill a clean bucket with one gallon of warm water.

Add 1/2 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) that is available at your hardware store.

Use a long stick to stir the water and TSP until the powder dissolves.

Using a stiff brush, scrub the TSP solution onto the paint spots on the brick.

Let the TSP sit and cure on the brick for 10 minutes.

Scrub the brick again with the scrub brush to remove the paint. Repeat this process until all of the paint is removed from the brick.

If there are still paint stains on the brick, moisten a rag with paint remover and soak the paint spots with it. Then use a back-and-forth motion with a scrub brush to remove the stains. Rinse well with water.

If you still have stubborn stains, go a step further and use a scrub brush and scouring powder. Moisten the scrub brush with water first, then sprinkle scouring powder onto it. Scrub the brick vigorously to remove any residue. Rinse the brick well with clean water.